Trump creates Religious Freedom Division at HHS

The Department of Health and Human Services announced the creation of a new and unsafe division of the Office of Civil Rights today that will allow healthcare providers to deny care to LGBT people and pregnant women based on their religious beliefs.

Essentially, the office will provide support for far right religious organisations who are against LGBTQ equality and abortion.

Critics of the move predicted the new division, whose creation was praised by conservative Christian advocacy groups that have strongly supported Republican President Donald Trump, would become embroiled in current litigation over whether healthcare workers can deny care to women seeking abortions or birth control as well as gay and transgender patients.

Although the administration claims the new office is meant to protect religious beliefs, it will nearly surely function to license discrimination against women, LGBT people, and others.

Robin Wilson, a professor at University of Illinois College of Law, said she thought the Trump administration was indicating it will side with those doctors or hospitals who refuse to perform gender-reassignment surgery. There was, naturally, no mention of the harm to women that results when hospitals refuse to provide abortions or referrals for abortions.

"President Trump promised the American people that his administration would vigorously uphold the rights of conscience and religious freedom", said Hargan. And anti-transgender advocates, who now have significant influence in the White House, have made it clear that a significant part of their agenda is to deprive transgender patients of essential, medically necessary health care. What this new division seems set to do, however, is to allow those who are so inclined to directly undermine the rights of others - particularly sexual and gender minorities - and then to claim to be doing so due to their religion.

"Everyone has the freedom, under the First Amendment, to practice their religion, but when deep morals or religious convictions overshadow the responsibility to provide care to sick and dying people, it is risky for our nation". The department rescinded guidance to states from President Barack Obama's administration that narrowed the circumstances in which they can exclude a medical provider to cases involving fraud, criminal activity or being unfit to provide care.

Planned Parenthood blasted the latest move, saying it takes an end-run around elected lawmakers and would deny critical services to women who use their clinics because they can not get health care elsewhere.

Severino told EWTN News Nightly that he attributes this surge in complaints to "pent up demand" and that this new division has been established "to assess complaints, see which ones are meritorious, and to vindicate the interests of justice as the law requires". Freedom of religion is at the core of our national fabric and our Constitution. Federal law prohibits Medicaid or any other federal funding for abortion services. "Health care professionals should be freed up to care for the bodies and minds of their patients, not tied up by having their own consciences bound", he added.

He assured the patients that all the physicians he knows provide care to anyone, even if they are engaged in lifestyles deemed by the doctor as harmful or immoral, such as smoking and alcohol abuse.

"As we write the next great chapter of our Nation, we reaffirm our commitment to these fundamental truths and will work to ensure that all Americans live in a country where they feel safe and where their opportunities are limitless". But we will be watching.

ACLU Deputy Legal Director Louise Melling said in a statement ahead of the announcement, "Should the administration choose to move forward to implement a discriminatory policy, we will see them in court".

Share

Related Articles

Few others also questioned the government as to what are they doing to avoid the problems faced by the citizens in Goa. The state government has pressed private vehicles and buses into service to deal with the strike.

Market worth or Market capitalization is calculated by multiplying the price of a stock by its total number of outstanding shares. The shares price has positioned 14.24% over the past quarter while it has directed -22.02% throughout past six months.

That same year, as a 15-year-old, he said he experienced his first "depression spell", The Telegraph reports. Phelps - as the victor of 28 Olympic medals, 23 of which are gold - is most awarded Olympian of all time.

The developers behind Compulsion Games have confirmed the same as they have published a video regarding the update . We Happy Few , the psychedelic horror survival game set in 1960's-era England, has been delayed once again.

But Senator Dick Durbin insisted the United States leader had used "hate-filled, vile and racist language during the meeting ". While Trump is known for saying offensive and outlandish things, this time , the rest of the world seems to have had enough.

Last year, 7,300 people died in over 1 million accidents on Turkish roads, according to the Turkish statistical institute. The tour bus, belonging to Kartallar Gezi firm, reportedly hit trees on the roadside of the Eskisehir-Bursa highway.

Nielsen said she did not believe Trump would have the authority to extend the March 5 deadline for the ending of the program. Honorable men would resign after such a remarkable revelation of their crummy character; neither Cotton nor Perdue will.

As the quarter progressed, however, they went ice-cold and failed to make a single shot in the final 5:51 of the third period. They play pick-and-roll on top, try to put our five in pick-and-rolls and we just didn't communicate it well.

The PKK which is based in Turkey , Iraq and parts of Syria has been involved in an armed conflict with Turkey . Turkey has in recent days sent dozens of military vehicles and hundreds of troops to the border area.

PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN are eyeing up the appointment of Pep Guardiola when his contract at Manchester City expires. City's director of football, Txiki Begiristain added: "We're delighted Ferna has signed his new contract".

Latest news

Watch Australian Open 2018 on TV, online
No. 5 Dominic Thiem rallied from two sets down to defeat 190th-ranked American qualifier Denis Kudla 6-7 (6), 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-3. A visibly drained Monfils had earlier looked close to retiring after taking the first set over a slow-starting Djokovic.

Turkey launches 11 airstrikes on Kurdish-held Afrin in Syria
It sees the militia as an extension of the banned Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has fought for Kurdish autonomy in Turkey. Russian Federation would prefer handing over Idlib to the Syrian government, instead of Turkey-backed opposition fighters.

N. Korea delegates arrive in Seoul for pre-Olympics inspection
The other North Korean athletes will compete in figure skating, Alpine skiing, cross-country skiing and short track speed skating. A day earlier, the ministry said North Korea had canceled the advance trip, then scheduled for Saturday, without an explanation.

Australian Open: Sharapova happy with improvement
Halep wasted chances to serve for the match in the ninth, 11th and 15th games, then had to save three match points in the 22nd. Maria Sharapova was happy with her improved display after an impressive win over Anastasija Sevastova at the Australian Open .

Second Women's March Draws Thousands, Focuses On Voting
Hundreds of women's marches are taking place this weekend around the world. "This year, I feel like I'm in it for the long haul". The San Francisco Women's March starts at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, January 20th, at the Civic Center.

Jaguars vs. Patriots: Coverage from around the country
The reason why he is, is because he prepares. "When you're a good-looking guy, a good quarterback, people want to know about you". Brady was involved in what one source described as a "minor collision" in Wednesday's practice, and the play was a handoff.

Djokovic staggers past Monfils in draining win
Germany's Andrea Petkovic , who was beaten 4-6, 6-0, 6-0 by Lauren Davis , said she could not think straight during her match. Wawrinka was suspected to have a knee injury going into the tournament and clutched it throughout the contest.